React Native vs Capacitor: Choosing the Right Framework for OTA Updates

Choosing Your Mobile Framework

The "React Native vs. Capacitor" debate is heated. Both are excellent frameworks for building cross-platform mobile apps, and both support Over-The-Air (OTA) updates. However, they work in fundamentally different ways.

As the creators of Upflux, the only OTA platform with first-class support for both, we have a unique, unbiased perspective.

Architecture Comparison

React Native

• How it works: Uses a "Bridge" (or JSI in newer versions) to communicate between JavaScript and Native UI components.
• The UI: Renders real native views (UIView, android.view.View).
• The Bundle: A proprietary JavaScript bundle format.
• OTA: Replaces the JS bundle file.

Capacitor

• How it works: Wraps a modern web app (React, Vue, Angular, Svelte) in a native WebView container.
• The UI: Renders HTML/CSS DOM elements.
• The Bundle: Standard web assets (index.html, .js, .css, .png).
• OTA: Replaces the web asset folder on the filesystem.

OTA Update Comparison Matrix

Performance Considerations

Capacitor updates often download faster because modern web bundlers (Vite, Webpack) are incredibly efficient at tree-shaking and splitting code. Upflux can often download just the changed chunks.

React Native bundles tend to be monolithic. While differential updates help, the baseline size is usually larger than a comparative web app.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose React Native if:

• You need "60fps" native-feeling animations and gestures.
• Your app relies heavily on complex native device features (AR, high-performance Bluetooth).
• You have a team of React developers who want to write "Native" apps.

Choose Capacitor if:

• Time-to-market is your #1 priority.
• You already have a web app (Next.js, React, Vue) and want to deploy it to mobile.
• You want pixel-perfect design consistency between Web and Mobile.
• You want the absolutely simplest OTA update experience.

The Good News

Regardless of your choice, Upflux has you covered.

• React Native: View the SDK
• Capacitor: View the SDK

You don't have to compromise on your deployment pipeline.